Tova Rabinovitz has dedicated her life to caring for Israel's most vulnerable children. For 26 years, she has worked at Aleh, a renowned organization that provides care for children with severe disabilities. But when her own son, Yaakov, was diagnosed with a rare and debilitating syndrome, her professional and personal worlds collided.

Yaakov, now six and a half years old, was born seemingly healthy. However, at just one-month-old, he began suffering from seizures. A series of devastating medical tests soon revealed that he had PIGA syndrome, an exceptionally rare disorder that affects only four children in Israel. He is blind, experiences severe epilepsy, and has profound cognitive and physical disabilities. He cannot communicate in any recognizable way, cannot turn over, and is largely immobile.

For Tova and her family, the initial shock was overwhelming. "At first, we thought he was just a regular child with epilepsy," she recalled. "But then we realized he was far more severely affected. The hardest moment for me was learning that he was blind. I don't know why, but that really broke me."

Yet over time, she embraced her new reality. "God prepared us for this," she said. "Having worked with children like Yaakov for so many years, we understood his needs. Today, we love him deeply, and he brings joy to our home, even though he can't express it the way other children do."

But war has introduced new fears into Tova's already complex reality. Yaakov is partially ventilated at night and constantly monitored for oxygen levels – all dependent on electricity. During the recent war, as Hezbollah threatened Israel's power grid, Tova feared that prolonged blackouts could be life-threatening. "If the power goes out for too long, we have no way to keep him alive at home," she explained.

Like many families of ventilated children, Tova reached out to Israel's Health Ministry, which had promised to provide backup generators to every ventilated patient. Yet, as of now, she has not received one. "We were told that if a blackout happened, hospitals wouldn't be able to accept us due to the war. So where do we go? What do we do?"

Beyond the immediate war concerns, the issue of power outages is also critical during winter, when storms frequently cause electricity disruptions. "It's not just about wartime," Tova noted. "Every winter, power outages occur due to harsh weather, and without a generator, we are left in the same dangerous situation."

Despite these challenges, Tova remains resilient. She continues her work at Aleh, where she teaches children with disabilities, providing them with stimulation, joy, and a sense of belonging.

The crisis facing ventilated children and their families has sparked concern among disability advocates. Rabbi Yehuda Marmorstein, CEO and Founder of Aleh, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating: "At Aleh, we believe that every child, regardless of their medical complexity, deserves dignity, care, and the best possible quality of life. The challenges faced by families of ventilated children during wartime highlight the urgent need for life-saving resources. Ensuring uninterrupted power for these children is not a privilege – it is a fundamental necessity. We call upon decision-makers to act immediately and provide every ventilated patient with a backup generator to safeguard their well-being and survival."

Tova echoes this call for action, urging authorities to take responsibility for the lives of Israel's most vulnerable. "Every ventilated patient must receive a generator. These children rely on electricity to survive. It's not a luxury – it's a necessity."

For now, Tova and her family pray that the power stays on and that someone, somewhere, will listen before it's too late.

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To mark the 31st anniversary of Shalva, an Israeli organization that works on behalf of people with disabilities, American Friends of Shalva recently held their annual gala.

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This year's event made a nod to the Middle East peace process of this past year, with the Shalva musical group, along with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, performing Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" with a group of musicians from the United Arab Emirates.

The special rendition, performed online, was sung in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. Emirati Singer Tariq Al Menhali took part in the musical gesture.

Guest of honor, His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, the Emirati Ambassador to the US, said it was a "great honor" to take part in the event honoring 31 years since Shalva was founded. Otaiba is also one of the architects of the Abraham Accords, and along with officials in the UAE and Bahrain is promoting programs modeled after Shalva to help children with disabilities.

The ambassador said that the UAE shared Shalva's "unwavering commitment" to improving the lives of people with disabilities, noting that in the Emirates, individuals with mental or other special needs were called "determined," a recognition of their achievements in various fields.

Otaiba said that the special rendition of the Simon and Garfunkel classic showed how "we must continue to work together" regardless of nationality, religion, or culture.

Shalva founder Kalman Samuels said that the gala event had made its theme "Building Bridges to the Future" in order to reflect the way in which Shalva inspires society to be more accepting, build bridges between people with disabilities and the community, with special emphasis on the relations that recently opened between Israel and the Arab world as a result of the Abraham Accords.

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All of Dor's friends and family who watched the ceremony on a livestream knew how far Dor had come to fulfill his life's dream. Twenty years ago, he was born with cerebral palsy, which caused him issues with his legs and arms.

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Only when Dor started studying karate under Yisrael Siyali did his life begin to change. He gained strength, overcame his mobility difficulties, and enlisted in the IDF as a combat soldier. According to IDF figures, he is the first cerebral palsy sufferer to serve as a combat soldier.

"Yisrael believed in me," Dor says. "He taught me to walk correctly, to run in a straight line, to stand up straight. He worked hard. He changed my life. I joined the Armored Corps, and in spite of the tough periods, I proved I could overcome almost any physical difficulty."

Dor talks to Israel Hayom at his family's home in Rishon Lezion while he is enjoying a week's leave. Someone watching him move around the house can't tell he has cerebral palsy.

His mother, Sigal, says "We took him to treatments with neurologists and orthopedists. We had an amazing private doctor, and we did everything to help him progress as much as possible."

As a child, Dor did not entirely understand his condition. He couldn't play much at recess, because he would constantly fall.

"I was full of energy and just wanted to work it off, so it was really frustrating to fall down in the middle of a game. It wasn't nice," he says.

"From a young age, I realized I couldn't fall into a cycle of feeling bad and bad moods, because it would never end. I always got back on my feet, physically and emotionally. Luckily, the kids in my class never made fun of me. Sometimes I was embarrassed, but I got over it."

Dor says, "I wanted to move ahead, like everyone … For me, the worst thing was to be pitied or for people to go easy on me. I didn't go easy on myself."

When he was nine, Dor's doctors said he had gone as far as he could in terms of walking, running, and stability. Then Siyali, the karate instructor, came to the family's house and met Dor.

"He wasn't in good shape. When he stood or walked, his feet turned in. His knees were bent, his bottom stuck out. He wasn't standing straight. The bones in his leg weren't straight, and he didn't open his hands properly. He didn't use his fingers properly," Siyali says.

Siyali wasn't ready to accept the doctors' decree and started studying cerebral palsy.

"I studied Dor's functioning and racked my brain about what to do with him. I sat him down and said, 'I believe in you, and you believe in yourself.' I realized that with a lot of faith, consistency, and work, we could fix a lot in his brain. I decided to make him my life's work," Siyali says.

The two started to work together. At first, Siyali didn't even teach him karate. He focused on straightening Dor's feet and posture.

"I demanded a lot of him, and he met all the challenges. It's really hard for a person to change habits, but Dor did it like a champ."

Dor say, "Every week we'd take over the living room, and Yisrael just changed my entire posture. He helped me stand differently, and suddenly I started to walk and run in a straight line.

"After a few months of work, I felt that I was gaining confidence in my body. I was falling a lot less, and it strengthened me, physically and mentally. For me, Yisrael was an angel who appeared in my life and never stopped pushing me forward."

Three years after Yisrael started working with Dor, his son, Doron, was killed in a car accident in Tel Aviv.

"With all the grief and sadness, I knew I wouldn't stop treating Dor. I found comfort and healing in working with him, from giving something to someone else," Siyali says.

The two continued to work together until Dor started 12^th grade.

"I wasn't afraid to play soccer. I didn't fall down, and I was comfortable running. It was a huge change for me," Dor says.

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Dor also did well academically, completing the highest-level matriculation exams in physics, mathematics, computers, and English.

Although his military profile allowed him physically undemanding service in the IDF's Intelligence Corps or in one of the army's tech units, Dor wanted to serve in a combat role.

"I didn't want to sit in front of a computer all day. I wanted to challenge myself. I decided to do all I could to make it into a combat unit. I knew I wouldn't give up on that dream."

When the time arrived for his first enlistment interview, he came armed with his medical file and "a huge drive to show the doctor that I was fit for combat service."

He was assigned a medical profile of 72, which made him eligible for combat service. The doctor told him he was unusually high-functioning.

Dor enlisted at the end of July 2018 and was sent to basic training in the Armored Corps. "It was clear it was going to be tough. Stressful. Exciting. All of a sudden I signed off on a weapon, and I was a member of the legendary 7^th Armored Brigade. All I wanted and dreamed of and hoped would happen, was happening."

"Basic training lasted four months, and on the first trek, which was five kilometers [three miles], I felt good. But the more time went by, the harder it was, mostly physically. My legs weren't used to the round-the-clock effort. They would make us run from place to place, and it was hard. I fell down a lot. It frustrated me every time, and it was embarrassing, but I always got up and continued. Lucky for me, the soldiers with me were great."

"My platoon commander in basic training knew about my problem, but I didn't explain it to the other soldiers. I asked them not to go easy on me. I said I wanted to be exactly like everyone else," he says.

After three months, Dor gathered his comrades and told them his full story. "They listened and responded warmly. None of them made fun of me, the opposite."

There were difficult moments. At one point, Dor called his parents and told them he didn't know what he was doing.

His father, Yuval, says, "We know what kind of character this kid has. But when he enlisted, it was clear that this was something else entirely. We were concerned. We waited for him to call, to let us know that everything was all right."

At the end of basic training, Dor and his comrades completed a 24-kilometer (15 mile) march from Jerusalem to Latrun, where they marked the completion of the first stage of their service.

Dor was named the outstanding recruit of his basic training course. His platoon commander handed Dor his own beret as a badge of respect.

Dor's parents and younger brothers, as well as Yisrael Siyali, were all present.

"I was so proud of the kid, the outstanding soldier who didn't go easy on himself for a single second," the teacher says.

Dor progressed to specialized training in the Armored Corps. "That was easier, because we dealt more with tanks and less with running and marching."

When he was through with specialized training, Dor was assigned to the 75^th Armored Battalion, where he serves as a gunner on a Merkava tank.

"I was really happy to join the company, and I like it there. We trained in the Golan Heights, and then we were deployed near Mount Hermon. I'm with good friends, and I feel like I've improved."

"The difficulties I had in basic training and specialized training only moved me forward. It proved more than anything that I can handle physical challenges and difficulties. Military service has been really empowering for me."

At the beginning of May, the head of the Northern Command named Dor an outstanding soldier. His parents drove north for the ceremony, even though they knew they would not be allowed to attend because of coronavirus restrictions.

Dor is slated to be discharged from the military next year. For now, he isn't thinking of making the army his career.

"I'm thinking about traveling. Maybe I'll go to Australia, if the skies are open by then.  Then I'll study at university," he says.

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An Amazon Alexa Fund portfolio company, Voiceitt's technology allows people with severe speech impairments to communicate through speech.

The 25-person startup has already partnered with the state of Tennessee, whose Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities participated in a pilot of the Voiceitt app.

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DIDD Commissioner Brad Turner cited "impactful results for people with intellectual disabilities," and said the department hoped to provide more opportunities for people "using this technology as a bridge for communication with their loved ones, friends, colleagues, and communities."

Danny Weissberg, CEO and co-founder of Voiceitt, said after the financing round closed that "Voiceitt provides a new dimension of independence and quality of life for people with speech and motor disabilities, and a compelling tool for those who care for and about them. Our technology helps with this and much more.

"With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our objectives are not only to support the individual's in-person communication, but also to assist healthcare professionals and support the continuum of care for their patients," Weissberg said.

Sara A. Smolley, executive vice president and co-founder, said the company's long-term vision is to "integrate Voiceitt's customizable speech recognition with mainstream voice technologies to enable environmental control through a universally accessible voice system."

The company's work has caught the attention of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, with the Technion's investment arm, AMIT Ltd., endorsing its application.

"Voiceitt's technology generates significant social value and creates real opportunities for individuals with speech disabilities by granting them with the two most prominent human life qualities: communication and independence," AMIT said.

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The Shalva Band performed a moving rendition of "God Bless America," in front of thousands. Following the show, one of the members hugged President Trump, who stayed on stage during the entire musical piece.

The band entered as contestants in the Eurovision contest this past May, but decided to step down from the competition, once its members were informed that the finale would take place on Shabbat. The members, who are religious, refused to perform and lost to Israeli singer, Kobi Marimi.

The group originally began as part of a musical therapy class at Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.

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The new center will be built next to the Polinsky School for Vocational Training in Jerusalem and will facilitate integration into the workforce for hundreds of youth from the special education system. Next door, the Jerusalem Municipality has pledged to build an additional facility to house a rehabilitation center for special education youth and young adults ages 13 to 21, who have communication and emotional and psychological disabilities.

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The construction of the new vocational training center was made possible with the significant support of the Polinsky-Rivkin family of the United States and the Jerusalem Foundation.

The late Abraham B. Polinsky, who emigrated from Russia to the United States, embarked on his own journey as a youth working on the streets and eventually became extraordinarily successful in business despite a lack of formal education. After meeting the mayor of Jerusalem and Jerusalem Foundation founder, the late Teddy Kollek, in the early 1980s, the two formed a special bond and Polinsky promised Kollek to help him build a better future for Jerusalem's children and youth.

Polinsky sought to provide youth with the opportunity to complete their formal education, earn high school matriculation and gain a profession, the same ticket into the workforce that he himself was lacking. Through today, the Polinsky-Rivkin family has continually kept the promise of their grandfather and his daughter and son-in-law, Jeannie and Arthur Rivkin, and assisted Jerusalem youth.

Established in the 1980s, today the Polinsky School serves a total of 130 pupils with learning disabilities who benefit from vocational training through workshops in a variety of fields. The school is the flagship institution in the sphere of vocational training for special education youth in Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Foundation expects the new center to help enable special education graduates to build independent lives as young adults, integrated into the workforce as contributing members of the community, rather than being solely dependent on government assistance.

The Jerusalem Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that promotes Jerusalem's development by raising funds for social, cultural and beautification projects. Established in 1966 by then-Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek, it has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the city's budget and established parks, gardens, forests, recreational sites, theaters, and museums; restored ancient sites, synagogues, mosques, and churches; funded community and social centers, preschool centers, and health clinics; and sponsored archeological excavations, scholarships, and cultural events.

The Jerusalem Foundation is considered unique in its mission, as it funds municipal projects with private donations from international sources.

The ceremony, held last Thursday, was attended by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, Jerusalem Foundation President Shai Doron and other executives from the organization, including Executive Chairman James S. Snyder and Director Anat Tzur. The great-grandson of school founder Abraham B. Polinsky, Adam Rivkin, and the family's representative, Helena Galper, were also in attendance.

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Noting the "important and extraordinary international recognition" in the organization's selection for the role, ILAN Chairman Ehud Rassabi said, "This is an opportunity to improve and promote the rights of people with disabilities around the world."

Founded in 1952 by a group of parents to children with polio, the ILAN organization works to improve the quality of life of children and adults with physical disabilities by providing them with the necessary services and treatments from birth, while also promoting their integration into society and the realization of their full potential, with the goal of their achieving maximum independence.

ILAN has 38 branches around Israel, some 30 of which include day centers, rehabilitation centers, sports centers, as well as residential programs for both children and adults with physical disabilities. In 2010, the organization was honored with the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and special contribution to society and the state for its work.

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